Phyllis Mae Ball

Thursday

Jan 3, 2013 at 3:06 PMJan 3, 2013 at 3:08 PM

1922-2012

Phyllis Mae Ball, 90, passed away on December 21, 2012, at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital in Ridgecrest. She was born on June 30, 1922, in Northampton, Ma., to Arthur and Rosanna (Brazeau) Frenier.Phyllis grew up in Northampton, attended the Sacred Heart School, and then graduated from Northampton High School in 1940. Phyllis attended and received a secretarial degree from Commercial College in Northampton. She was the first woman from Northampton to enlist in the United States Navy Waves, and she worked as a secretary in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., during World War II.Phyllis married Herbert L. Ball, Jr., on September 1, 1945, in Northampton, Ma. They were married for 39 years until Herbert’s death in 1985. Phyllis is survived by her five children and their families: Claire and Terry Dwan, Donal and Carl Zorzi, Denise Foster, Michael and Michelle Ball, and Steven and Deborah Ball. She also leaves behind her sister, Theresa Subocz (Michael) of Greenfield, Ma., her brother-in-law, Kenneth Ball (Lorrie) of Manassas, Va., 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, her nieces, nephews and many, many friends, who were of great comfort to her in her last illness.She was predeceased by husband, Herbert L. Ball, Jr., her parents Arthur and Rosanna (Brazeau) Frenier, her brother, Arthur Frenier, Jr., and her dearly-loved aunts and uncles.The family would like to thank the staff of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital and Hospice for their gentle and loving care of our mother during her last days, and to thank the nursing staff there, especially Larena Sandoval, CNA; and Maria, Janet, and Tina of Hospice. A celebration of Phyllis’s life will be held on January 12, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army Chapel in Ridgecrest. And June 29, 2013, there will be a graveside service for burial of her cremains at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Northampton, Ma.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Salvation Army, 151 North Downs Street, Ridgecrest, CA 93555, to the attention of Envoys Charles and Donna Griffin, or to Ridgecrest Regional Hospice Services, 1653 Triangle Drive, Suite B, Ridgecrest, CA 93555.